MEMPHIS — When it came time to announce where he would play college basketball, Sheffield guard Chris Crawford took a long look at the three hats in front of him Thursday before picking up the bright orange cap representing the University of Tennessee.
But much like the grip Tennessee seemingly had on Crawford’s recruitment last week, it was only a fleeting charade.
After a tug-of-war between coaches Josh Pastner and Bruce Pearl that went back-and-forth a few times over the final weeks of his recruitment, Crawford exchanged the orange hat for Tiger blue and committed to the University of Memphis during a news conference at his high school.
“I thought long and hard with my mom and prayed on it,” Crawford said. “I just really didn’t want to leave home. I felt like I’d be good here in Memphis. It was really a toss-up but I wanted to play here in front of my family and win a national championship.”
Crawford, a 6-4 sharpshooter who went from virtual unknown to one of the nation’s hottest prospects over the summer, becomes the fourth Tigers commitment in a 2010 class that is quickly loading up on elite talent. Ranked No. 66 by Rivals.com, Crawford joins Baltimore shooting guard Will Barton (No. 11), White Station point guard Joe Jackson (No. 12) and Baltimore point guard Antonio Barton (unranked).
“It’s exciting because now we have a spot-up shooter and another scorer,” said Jackson, who played with Crawford on the Memphis Magic Elite AAU squad that won the Adidas Super 64 tournament in Las Vegas this summer. “We’re trying to be No. 1 in the nation.”
Before Crawford committed, Memphis’ recruiting class was already ranked No. 3 nationally by Rivals, behind Ohio State and Syracuse — a remarkable development given the chaos that surrounded the program after John Calipari’s departure.
Also, after promising that he would recruit “inside-out,” Pastner has now locked up two of the top three seniors in Memphis, reconnecting the program with its 1970s and ’80s roots when most nearly all of the city’s top players stayed at home.
With three or four more slots still to fill in this class, Pastner will now focus on Ridgeway’s 6-8 forward Tarik Black, ranked No. 47 by Rivals, who played AAU ball with Crawford and Jackson.
Memphis fans can only hope Black’s recruitment turns out as favorably as Crawford’s, which seemed headed in the direction of Knoxville as recently as last week. But a combination of Pastner’s final pitch and some late mistakes by Tennessee, whose recruiting approach was relentlessly negative, ignited a dramatic shift over the final days.
Pearl, who once said he had to pull players out of Memphis to be successful in Knoxville, is still looking to land his first since arriving at Tennessee in 2005.
“It really wasn’t my style,” Crawford said. “I didn’t like how they acted there. I didn’t want to be in that kind of environment. I knew Tennessee wasn’t for me. Memphis is my school.”
Pastner’s biggest hurdle in recruiting Crawford was convincing him that he would have a significant role in the program, even with talented guards like Jackson and Barton coming on board, and the likelihood of Elliot Williams returning for his junior year in 2010-11. But at a meeting late last week, Pastner successfully conveyed his vision for Crawford, which also included an emotional appeal about becoming a star in his hometown.
“One thing that I respect Memphis for and Chris respects Memphis for is that Josh just made it plain,” his mother, Betty Crawford, said. “He told Chris, ‘You have to earn everything,’ and it really helped him a lot to make his decision. He has never gotten anything free. Anything he’s gotten, he’s earned.”
Though at one point it appeared Crawford might have some academic issues, his senior year is off to a good start by all accounts, putting him on a trajectory to be eligible as a freshman. That’s not surprising, given how much Crawford’s confidence has grown both on the court and off as a result of his play in July.
Once a shy, quiet kid, Crawford seemed at ease in the public spotlight Thursday and said repeatedly he would embrace being in a competitive situation at Memphis.
“I was always underrated, that’s what I felt, and that July was my month,” Crawford said. “My confidence went way high.
“I feel like I’m on another level now and I’ve got to keep it that way.”
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
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Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 136
UTfaninYankeeland writes:
This is starting to get annoying!
CUSA_NEWS writes:
For some reason, I enjoy reading the Commercial Appeal articles when they're posted on your site. Guess it is because I enjoy sharing such good news with you, my rocky top friends. You guys enjoy the good news from Memphis as well Im sure. We're both happy, nothing better than that.
Cheers!!
TopTenn writes:
I never viewed Crawford as a great SG. It puzzled me to recruit a guard no better than Hopson and Tatum. Our needs are SF and PF. The staff need to deliver Harris, Cothron or Pinkston.
NobodyCares (Inactive) writes:
Knowing full well that the ability to read the English language is not a requirement to enroll at Memphis, I guess no one bothered to tell this kid that Calipari has moved on to UK.
Greer_Vol_22 writes:
I guess we are just not enough "hood" for him...
Sovol writes:
Sounds like they will have a small team with all those guards.
TopTenn writes:
Why are we still trying to recruit Memphis, even Cal didn't recruit Memphis. We have had success in Georgia (Atlanta area). BP needs to bypass Memphis.
Mr_Man52 writes:
Lose a recruit to Memphis and the usual comes out every single time-----he's a thug, he's a Memphis gangster, he's illiterate, Pastner cheated, we didn't want him anyway, he's not that good. Blah, Blah, Blah. You wanted CC, you needed CC. Admit it and you'll be better for it. You guys are almost as delusional as uk fans, and that's saying something.
ETNTigerFan writes:
Good choice CC! Go Tigers!
justbware#205283 writes:
It was possible to get a Memphis recruit for UT when Cal was there, but Pastner has locked down that city. It's not happening now, Pearl!
jp17 writes:
This kid must not of been able to pass the S.A.T.'s. I believe Memphis has tutors or something that will help with that. Hopefully not someone that will take the test for him? We only want athletes that want to be VOLS!
MikeInTN writes:
Bruce, is finding out what a lot of U.T. coaches came to grips with. The Memphis community is close and it's awful hard to get a player out of there that U.M. wants badly.
TnScooby writes:
Blah Blah Blah...that sounds just like a Memphis fan...If you don't like it MrWoman go to your own board...Nobody has accused Pastner of cheating...DELUSIONAL is imagining someone had accused him...As for the rest of your post, we recruit who we recruit....Win some,lose some...Losing this kid doesn't make or break our recruiting class...Come New Years Eve you'll find that out on the court...On the losing end of the lesson....Go post on your own board!!!!!
tennezz writes:
Let them all go to Tiger High, Who cares!
sidwalkvol writes:
didn't like the way UT acted? What does that even mean?
BreatheUT writes:
Some of you guys seem to be missing the point with some of the clown responses. Though its hard to get players out of Memphis, something changed in recent weeks. Sounds like this article is eluding to the Vols negative recruiting in recent weeks. I'm not sure if that's true or not but there are a lot of positives to come to the University of TN and those should be highlighted.
I'm not sure if Pastner can coach or not but he's bringing in some players. We'll still get our players too, and we're deep at SG right now. Coach Pearl needs to show he can take a team deep in the tourney.
I really don't understand the denigrating comments about the city of Memphis. Some of you have personal problems. Coach Pearl is having trouble getting the good recruits from there, but we've had a lot of good players come from that city in both football and basketball playing for the Orange.
Go Vols!
ozoney#235138 writes:
this kid won't like the "way we act" when we're whipping them this year on the court either. he'll regret this when he looks up at the scoreboard and see's UT up by 15 with .1 on the clock.
Voluvr writes:
Good luck competing against the four other guards and dodging NCAA storms brewing from Calimari's mess.
tennezz writes:
UT would not have liked the way he acted either!
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
Derrick Rose couldn't beat U.T. and this guy is nowhere near Rose's caliber.
marinevol writes:
Did you guys really lose to MTSU in football?
mike#208050 writes:
So how motivating was that raise, Bruce Pearl?
Casey Prather (Jackson, TN) commits to Florida
Austin Hollis (son of Memphis Grizzles coach) commits to Minnesota
Joe Jackson (Memphis) commits to Memphis
Chris Crawford (Memphis) commits to Memphis
Tarik Black (Memphis) will announce soon to ...Memphis
Andonis Thomas, class of 2011(Memphis) is totally in love with..Memphis
Sorry boys you won't be spanking any Tigers for years to come. Enjoy Calipari in the SEC while you got him!
TIGRFAN in knoxville
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
i guess you could go to Memphis and have the easiest "in" in the tournament, or come to Tennessee and have to work for it. It sounds like he wasn't willing to work.
tennezz writes:
Name 10 good players we`ve had from Memphis in the last 100 years?
mike#208050 writes:
Tyreke Evans could and DID !
Yeah this guy is not the caliber of Derrick Rose. Nobody would argue that point. With E.Williams, J.Jackson and W.Barton all playing at the same time, this is a pretty good weapon to have coming off the bench. The point here is that Crawford is just another Memphis kid that UT was passionately recruiting that told ole Brucie to take a hike!
TIGRFAN in knoxville
EnglewoodVol writes:
He probably didn't like the idea of having to play defense. Or maybe he likes wearing his pants where he'll get fined in Atlanta. If you're from Memphis and you don't like the environment in Knoxville, that says it all. Maybe it was the discipline he was about to receive, or it might not have even been the basketball environment.
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
Thanks for your input.
I will give it all the consideration it deserves.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
For the record yes we did want him, no I don't think he is a thug or illiterate, but I can't go as far as to say we needed him. You know it. I know it. Don't try to kid yourself. We've got 2 SGs of his caliber in this class already and 2 Soph SGs that are ready to go right now, so don't go typing yourself into believing that we need this kid. It is yet to be seen whether or not he is anything more than a 1 month wonder. Seems like Pastner has got a good us against the world pitch going on and it is working on the Memphis kids. To me though, if I was in their shoes, UM and Calapari both reek way too much of cheater for me to be associated with. You all can claim that the shady dealings went out the door with Calapari, but at best the administration turned a blind eye to the humanly impossible swings in test scores and recruits from diploma mills. At worst they're directly involved. I'd rather UT bust out in the Round of 32 every year and know that, because they took the high road, their accomplishments would be in the record books when it is all said and done. Like I said on the earlier thread, I can't wait to see him get posterized on the jumbotron inside T-B. Go Big Orange! V,B
http://rivals.yahoo.com/tennessee/bas...
http://rivals.yahoo.com/tennessee/bas...
http://rivals.yahoo.com/tennessee/bas...
Lean_and_Hungry writes:
I wonder if he'll like how we act when we kick memphis state's rear. we don't need that mama's boy, anyway.
bluevol writes:
It appears you have no comprehension skills yourself Nobody. Your post makes NO sense. What does Calipari and reading English have in common? Does Calipari teach English? How do those sour grapes taste?
bluevol writes:
You Vol fans are a hoot. This rookie coach is eating Minnie Pearl's lunch and all you do is type your jealous comments; many with profanity. That's what you people do best, yak and curse. That's crazy, a rookie coach has the 3rd ranked recruiting class in the country and it's going to be #1 before he's finished. And like broken records you hicks start mumbling things about thugs and how you didn't want the players anyhow, yeah right.
EnglewoodVol writes:
It was the memphis dude that said we didn't want him. Glad you got your guy though.
tuckepk writes:
KNS--why are you not removing this kind of garbage??? Why have you no decided to camouflage this kind of junk? It's not that some users consider this comment inappropriate, IT IS INAPPROPRIATE! This junk should be removed immediately and the perp banned.
JohnnyMemphis writes:
"didn't like the way UT acted? What does that even mean?"
How about:
"the ability to read the English language is not a requirement to enroll at Memphis,..."
"not enough "hood" for him..."
"This kid must not of been able to pass the S.A.T.'s."
"i guess you could go to Memphis and have the easiest "in" in the tournament"
"He probably didn't like the idea of having to play defense. Or maybe he likes wearing his pants where he'll get fined in Atlanta."
"we don't need that mama's boy, anyway."
Seems pretty elementary to me. Just a tip, but if you guys are hoping to attract recruits, you might want to watch your mouths. Sounds like you guys have just a bit too much anger to really appeal to anyone. Hate's just ugly, folks.
JohnnyMemphis writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
slsmithsr#269458 writes:
"didn't want to be in that type enviroment."
Maybe Memphis has better weed.
yeavols#228407 writes:
Hmmm, after being undecided, prayed about it, wanted to stay home and play in front of his family, the kid then puts on a show picking up a hat at a press conference. Oh and then blames UT the way they acted for not coming to Knoxville. BUAHAHAH whatever. Save the bad story for someone who is listening. If I didn't know any better, the way these articles are written are antagonistic and should be read with a grain of salt.
JoeVols writes:
He didn't like the fact that if he had went to Tennessee, he would have to go class and study. That's just not his style...
chestnutglade writes:
He made the right move. It is all about me me me. “It really wasn’t my style,” Crawford said. “I didn’t like how they acted there. I didn’t want to be in that kind of environment. I knew Tennessee wasn’t for me. There was no people there to take the test for him.LOL
murrayvol writes:
So be it! Good luck Mr. Crawford.
No use hating on Memphis or anyone who chooses to play there.
Better to concentrate on those who want to be Volunteers.
Ironcity writes:
Just so you know Mike their are other areas in the country where kids play basketball and we have done quite well recruiting them. I have never had a problem with a kid that decides to stay home. I wish the kid well. Will keep working the area as well as the rest of the country. That's what NATIONAL programs do.
10volunteers98 writes:
'Didn`t like the way they acted'? Is Crawford any kin to Marlin Brown?Same grandmaw? GO,VOLS!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Good luck, youngster.
I have told Bruce many times that we must include thuggery as a major or at least step up the ride-a-longs.
volsunited writes:
Recruiting good players one thing, coaching them to wins is another. Im curiuos to see how it works out there cal had great players and has jack to show for it except jack phooey conf-usa titles
JoeVols writes:
December 31st... Get your popcorn ready.. Or in your case, your kleenex's... What better way to send out the old year than to go to MHS (Memphis High School), and beat up on 'lil brother...
tnbanker_govols writes:
He didn't like the way we acted......I guess it's because we are law abiding citizens!!
DC_Vol writes:
I am a big fan of Bruce Pearl, but I have to admit lately, I have been disappointed in his decision making. Specifically, I thougt spending several months preparing and coaching in the Maccabiah Games instead of attending to the recruiting needs of UT basketball was placing his collegiate responsibilities second.
to participate in Maccabiah gameWe have lost two great recruits in his absense. Aaron Craft and Josh Selby. Further, countless other recruits may have seleted UT had he been in the states performing his recruiting function for which he is paid handsomely by UT. I feel like Pearl is playing catchup in the recruiting game after his hiatus from UT basketball. Further, he just received a raise last year and he was paid to coach at the Maccabiah games. Did he suspend his UT salary during this period?
I for one, think Pearl shirked his recruiting responsibilities this offseason and it shows in the recruiting rankings.
Would be interested to hear if other UT fans feel the same way?
For the record, I am a huge UT fan and Bruce Pearl fan, I just think he did what was in the best interest of Bruce Pearl, instead of what was in the best interest of UT.
utucla writes:
Another so called "great" recruiting class....another year without a championship......same old tiger high....
tdforvols writes:
Someone should have told this young man that part of a true education (and growing up) involves leaving the home nest and exploring new environments and different cultures. While there is certainly a comfort level in staying home and playing in front of the family in the long run his growth as a person will suffer by this decision.
RockyTop1998 writes:
Mommy I am to scared to leave you. Who will make my lunch if I go to UT? Coach Pearl told me you couldnt walk me to class and The people in Knoxville speak a different language i think its called english. Also if I go to school there I have to wear my pants like normal people around my waist instead of holding them up with my hand so the dont fall down.
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